IWIKUA

IWIKUA HAS A HOLISTIC VIEW OF WELLNESS WHICH INTEGRATES CULTURAL CONNECTION AS WELL AS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH. OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH FACILITY, MAKANA TRAINING CENTER (MTC), IS OPEN TO MEMBERS EACH DAY AND ALSO PROVIDES WEEKLY GROUP FITNESS CLASSES. OVER THE YEAR, OUR STUDENT AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS AIDED IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE CENTER AND ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WORK TRAINING THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE, UTILIZING THE MEMBER MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, BASIC GYM EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, AND CONSTRUCTION AS WE EXPANDED OUR SPACE. MTC OFFERS AN AGE-INCLUSIVE TRACK CAMP DURING THE SUMMER, AS WELL AS A BASKETBALL SKILLS TRAINING CAMP WITH PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS WHO COME TO SERVE AS MENTORS DURING THE WEEK. WE ALSO HAVE A WORK-TRADE PROGRAM FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND ADULT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO UTILIZE THE GYM AT NO COST. TRACK CLUB PARTICIPANTS, GYM GOERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALSO VOLUNTEER IN IWIKUA-HOSTED COMMUNITY RUNS AND FITNESS COMPETITIONS THAT BRING OVER 400 COMMUNITY COMPETITORS TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

NA MAHI HO'OKO A'E IS THE EDUCATIONAL FARM PROGRAM OF IWIKUA THAT FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION, INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN GARDENING TECHNIQUES WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE OPERATION OF OUR LARGE-SCALE AQUAPONICS SYSTEM AND IN-GROUND CROPS. WE PROVIDED A VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO OUR WEST KAUAI COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT LARGE THROUGH OUR MINI GROCERY STORE, AS WELL AS THIRTEEN RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES AND THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. OVER THE YEAR WE WORKED WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL BREAKS TO DO INTENSIVE INTERNSHIPS WHERE THEY WERE IMMERSED IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE FARM OPERATION, FROM SEED TO SALE, HELPING WITH PLANTING, HARVESTING, PACKAGING, MARKETING, AND DISTRIBUTION, AS WELL AS LEARNING CONSTRUCTION SKILLS THROUGHOUT THE EXPANSION OF OUR FARM SYSTEM. WE ALSO HAD OVER 75 VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CLASSES THAT INTEGRATED THEIR CURRICULUM INTO A HANDS-ON APPLICATION ON THE FARM. THESE EFFORTS HELPED PRODUCE OVER 16,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE (INCLUDING OVER 14,000 POUNDS OF LETTUCE) WHICH WENT DIRECTLY INTO FEEDING THE COMMUNITY WHILE PROVIDING A UNIQUE AGRICULTURAL AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR LOCAL YOUTH.